African violet plant named Little Aquamarine

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named Little Aquamarine characterized by its miniature growth habit; single violet-shaped, white flowers with blue center; strong stems which curve toward the center to form a compact bouquet above the leaves; profuse and continuous flowering; bright green, spear-shaped leaves; flowering 10-11 weeks after planting of unrooted shoot, and by its long lasting and non-dropping flowers.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Africanviolet plant, botanically known as Saintpaulia ionantha, and hereinafterreferred to by the cultivar named Little Aquamarine.

The new cultivar was referred to during the breeding and selectionprocess by the designation K 1/20 and is a product of a planned breedingprogram. The new cultivar was originated from a cross made by me in thecontrolled breeding program in Haffen, Federal Republic of Germany. Thefemale, or seed parent was a cultivar designated H 25/z. The male, orpollen parent was a cultivar designated H 73/3.

Little Aquamarine was discovered and selected by me as a flowering plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment inHaffen, West Germany. Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by leafcuttings, as performed by me at Haffen, West Germany, has demonstratedthat the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the newcultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations ofasexual reproduction.

Little Aquamarine has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and values describe the newcultivar as grown in a 4 cm pot in Haffen, West Germany and Nashville,Tenn. under greenhouse conditions which closely approximate thosegenerally used in commercial practice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Little Aquamarine, which in combinationdistinguish this African violet as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Little Aquamarine will not grow taller than 8 cm.

(2) Single violet-shaped, white flowers with blue center.

(3) Strong wirelike and upright flower stems curving toward the center.

(4) First flash of flowers form a tight bouquet above the leaves.

(5) Profuse flowering; under good growing conditions continuousflowering.

(6) Each plant carries 6-8 and more upright flower stems each of whichcarries 4-5 and more flowers.

(7) Long lasting, non-dropping flowers.

(8) Plant saleable 10 to 11 weeks after planting of unrooted shoot.

(9) Seed capsules push slightly through.

(10) Bright green, shiny leaves.

(11) Spear-shaped leaves are 1.5 to 2.5 cm in size.

(12) After maturity the flowers dry off, and remain on the peduncle.

The closest known variety is Little Opal, patent application Ser. No.192,698, whose leaf shape and flower shape and color are similar toLittle Aquamarine. Differences between Little Opal and Little Aquamarineare the darker and more clear-cut blue color and additional very smallpetals in the center of Little Aquamarine.

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows a typical specimenplant of the new cultivar growth in a 4 cm pot. The plant is picturednext to a pencil, highlighting the miniature size and growth habit ofLittle Aquamarine. The colors appearing in the photograph are as true aspossible with color illustrations of this type.

In the following description, color reference are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Color Chart (RHS), except where general colors ofordinary significance are referred to. Color values were taken undernatural sunlight conditions at approximately 1 p.m. in Nashville, Tenn.

Botanical classification: Saintpaulia ionantha, Ramat., c.v. LittleAquamarine.

Parentage:

Male parent.--H/73/3.

Female parent.--H 25/z.

Propagation: The new cultivar holds its distinguishing characteristicsthrough successive propagations by leaf cuttings.

Plant: From 5 cm to 7 cm tall when growth in pots, and approximately7-10 cm in diameter when fully grown.

Leaves.--General form: Spear-shaped. Diameter: 17-22 mm wide and 23-26mm long. Texture: Leatherlike. Apsect: Shiny, hairy, slightly serrated.Veins: Upperside: visible; underside: well pronounced, light green,shiny. Color (upperside): Green Group 137 C. Color (underside):Greyed-Green Group 193 A. Petiole: Strong, green, hairy.

Flowers.--Buds: Size: 4-6 mm just before opening. Shape: Bell-shaped.Color: Greenish white. Sepals: Five (5). Color: Green. Calyx: Shape:Funnel-shaped. Aspect: Spear-shape, hairy. Peduncle: Character: Strongupright, hairy. Color: Green.

Individual flowers.--Size: 22-25 mm. Shape: Single violet-shaped (3large, 2 small petals) with occasionally 2-3 additional very smallpetals in the center. Color (upperside): White with center beingViolet-Blue Group 93 B to C. Under cooler temperatures and moreintensive lighting, the blue tends to intensify, Color (underside):Violet-Blue Group 93 B to C. Borne: Each flower stem carries 4-5 andmore flowers on strong, upright peduncle that are free standing abovethe leaves, thereby forming a compact bouquet. Flowering habit: Flowers10-11 weeks after planting an unrooted plantlet.

Reproductive organs.--Stamens: Two (2). Anthers: 2 composed of 4 anthercells; seed capsule pushes slightly through. Fulaments: Yellowish green,3-4 mm long. Styles: 5-6 mm long, purplish blue, base of ovary lightgreen and hairy.

Roots.--Normally developed, white when young, turning slightly brownishwhen older.

Disease resistance: Good

General observations: Little Aquamarine is a super miniature violet,which does not grow taller than 8 cm. The single violet-shaped flowersare white with a blue center. The flowers are long-lasting andnon-dropping. Ocassionally, 2-3 additional very small petal develop inthe center covering up the anthers. Under good growing conditions LittleAquamarine will bloom continuously. A nice bouquet of flowers freestanding above the bright green, spear-shaped leaves developsapproximately 10-11 weeks after planting an unrooted plantlet. Each ofthe 6-8 and more strong flower stems carries 4-5 and more flowers.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of African violet named Little Aquamarine, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized by its miniature growth habit; single violet-shaped, white flowers with blue center; strong stems which curve toward the center to form a compact bouquet above the leaves; profuse and continuous flowering; bright green, spear-shaped leaves; flowering 10-11 weeks after planting of unrooted shoot, and by its long lasting and non-dropping flowers. 